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PRIEST REFUSES COMMUNION TO KNEELING PRO-LIFE POLITICIAN

Calls Pro-Life Delegate a "Conservative Idiot"

ARLINGTON, VA, October 10, 2002 (LSN.ca) - Honorable Richard Black, member of the Virginia House of Delegates and a heroic defender of life and family in the state legislature, was refused Holy Communion at Arlington's St. Thomas More Cathedral. On September 22, the Cathedral Rector, Fr. Dominic Irace refused to give Communion to Delegate Black since Black was kneeling to receive. Fr. Irace told him he must stand to receive but Black chose rather to genuflect and withdraw.

In a letter of concern to Arlington Bishop Paul Loverde, Catholic pro-life activist Dr. Joseph Strada, wrote: "This affront to Delegate Black, and his family, is doubly shameful because Delegate Black is, without question, the most courageous defender of the innocent unborn on the floor of the House of Delegates in Richmond. One has to wonder if Fr. Irace would have been so bold as to refuse Holy Communion to Senator Ted Kennedy or other militantly pro-abortion "Catholic" politicians who regularly attend Mass in Arlington churches."

After Mass, and in the presence of Black's wife and daughter as well as other faithful, Fr. Irace shouted insults to Delegate Black as he exited the Cathedral. When Delegate Black tried to avoid Fr. Irace, pointing out that he had refused him Holy Communion, Fr. Irace shouted "you liar!" several times. As Delegate Black left the Cathedral, Fr. Irace loudly called him a "conservative idiot."

In an interview with LifeSite, Delegate Black said that while he has been under tense situations in combat for his country and in the war-like political realm, he was concerned for other faithful Catholics who may be intimidated by Fr. Irace.

To express your concerns:

Bishop Loverde:
The Most Reverend Paul S. Loverde
Diocese of Arlington
200 North Glebe Road,
Suite 914 Arlington, VA 22203
Or email family life office at

Delegate Richard Black
20978 Flatboat Court
Sterling, VA 20165
(703) 406-2951
fax: (703) 450-2076


See Joseph Strada's letter to the Bishop:
http://www.rcf.org/docs/strada01.htm

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U.S. PUSHING TO HAVE U.N. CLONING-BAN TREATY IN PLACE BY NOVEMBER

UNITED NATIONS, October 10, 2002 (LSN.ca) - The United States proposal for the United Nations treaty on human cloning which aims to ban all forms of human cloning - both reproductive and so-called 'therapeutic' is facing opposition from France and Germany. The total-ban proposed by the U.S. as well as the Philippines and Spain has the backing of the Vatican and several other countries including Italy, Argentina and Costa Rica.

The U.S. proposal, a draft of which was obtained by ABC News Tuesday, calls for a moratorium on human cloning pending the adoption of an international convention. It also urges nations to "prohibit those techniques of genetic engineering that may have adverse consequences on the respect for human dignity."

A French diplomat attempted to suggest that a total ban may not be achievable but a ban on reproductive-cloning only would be acceptable to all. However, the pro-life perspective on the matter is that therapeutic cloning would be worse than reproductive since with reproductive cloning the human beings generated from the illicit process will at least have a chance of being born whereas those lives created for 'therapeutic' purposes will only be killed through experimentation and never be given a chance to be born.

See the ABC News coverage:
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20021008_2206.html

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McGILL SPEAKER CONDEMNS NEW 'EUGENICS'

MONTREAL, October 10, 2002 (LSN.ca) - In a third installment of National Post op-eds in connection with the McGill conference on Pluralism, Religion and Public Policy, Margaret Somerville, a professor at McGill's Centre for Medicine, Ethics and Law, condemns "new genetics" which she says "is functioning as eugenics."

"Decisions by individuals based on preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of IVF embryos, or prenatal screening of foetuses," she says, "mean we will eliminate certain groups of people, for example, Down's syndrome children, from our society."

"Intense individualism leads to claims of rights to 'absolute reproductive freedom'," she says, "that is, claims that decisions about reproduction are no one else's business -- especially not the state's business to interfere with through law -- and one should be absolutely free to reproduce in whatever way and reproduce whatever kind of child one wishes. That is an adult-centred reproductive decision-making model. But should the decision-making be, rather, future child-centred, especially when there is a conflict between what is best for the future parents and for the future child?"

"We should remember," she adds, "that the ethical tone of a society is set by how it treats its weakest, most in need, most vulnerable members, not those who are powerful, able and can protect themselves. What ethical tone will we hand on to our near and far-distant descendants, especially regarding respect for human life?"

To read the full column see:
http://www.nationalpost.com/utilities/story.html?id={6660E155-C7E8-4EBE-96C9-39F...

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MISS AMERICA OFFICIALS WITHDRAW CENSURE OF ABSTINENCE MESSENGER

CHICAGO, October 10, 2002 (LSN.ca) - Erika Harold, Miss America 2003, yesterday told a local audience that officials have withdrawn their attempt to suppress her right to speak to teenagers about chastity.

"I don't think the pageant organizers really understood how much I am identified with the abstinence message," Miss Harold told reporters. "If I don't speak about it now as Miss America, I will be disappointing the thousands of young people throughout Illinois who need assurance that waiting until marriage for sex is the right thing to do," she said.

Miss Harold tells audiences how she was subjected to "pervasive racial and sexual harassment" by fellow students because she has some black and native ancestry, and because she rejected sexual advances at school. At the time, the principal told her, "If you'd only be more submissive like the other girls, this wouldn't happen to you," she said.

To read continuing Washington Times coverage see:
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20021010-10838180.htm

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PRO-LIFE GROUP FACES BANKRUPTCY AFTER COURT ORDER

SAN DIEGO, October 10, 2002 (LSN.ca) - The United States Justice Foundation (USJF), a non-profit legal group that defended pro-life demonstrator Cheryl Sullenger last year, now faces bankruptcy after a judge ordered them to pay Planned Parenthood's legal fees.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Kevin Enright ruled Oct. 1 that the Foundation's motion to dismiss Planned Parenthood's application for an injunction against Ms. Sullenger in 1999 was "frivolous." Sullenger was accused of holding up graphic signs of aborted foetuses and "harrassing" employees, and photographs of Sullenger talking to people outside the clinic were used to prove that USJF's application was frivolous -- even though she has an innocent explanation for the photos.

"I have no sympathy for Cheryl Sullenger, who thinks the way to get her point across is to blow up a building," said Planned Parenthood lawyer James McElroy, who is evidently passionately pro-abortion. "She is a dangerous person. Doctors and workers have been murdered in this country and there have been over 200 arsons."

To read extended coverage of the story see:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=29224

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LIFESITE NEWSBYTES

IRISH TRIO PLANNING TRIP TO SWITZERLAND FOR ASSISTED SUICIDE
http://www.online.ie/news/irish_examiner/viewer.adp?article=1855183

SYPHILIS 'EPIDEMIC' SEEN AMONG GAY MEN IN GERMANY
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Living/reuters20021009_632.html

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US NEWS ROUNDUP

HALF U.S. PHARMACIES DO NOT STOCK ABORTIFACIENT MORNING AFTER PILL
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/25739p-24347c.html

US BISHOPS CONFERENCE INTERCESSIONS FOR LIFE FOR DECEMBER
http://www.usccb.org/prolife/liturgy/woldec02.htm

BLACK PRO-LIFERS MARCH ON BIRMINGHAM
African-American right-to-life group wants to highlight the horrors of abortion in the black community.
http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/A0022613.html

ANTHONY CARDINAL BEVILACQUA WRITES SENATORS TO SUPPORT CONSCIENCE LEGISLATION
http://www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/abortion/andasen.htm

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